Lock for buggy-tops



(No Model.) 7 v M D. J. SHULTZ.

LOGK FOR BUGGY TOPS.

No. 474,193.- Patented May 3, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OrricE,

DANIEL JAY SHULTZ, OF SPRUCE GREEK, PENNSYLVANIA.

. LOCK FOR BUGGY-TOPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 474,193, dated May 3,1892.

Application filed January 30, 1892. Serial No. 419,750. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL JAY SHULTZ, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Spruce Oreek,in the county of Huntingdon and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locksand Drops for Buggy-Tops; and I do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description of the invention,which will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form apart of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in means for fastening the jointsof the stay-rods of buggy tops or canopies and for breaking the samewhen desired for the purpose of lowering the top.

Stay-rods for buggy-tops as now ordinarily constructed consist of twobars jointed to gether, the lower bar being pivoted to the back of theseat, while the upper one is pivoted to a stud or pin secured to theframe of the top or canopy. In practice when the top is raised the barscomprising the stay-rod are forced into line with each other, and thushold the top in place. To lowerthe top, the joint of the stay-rod isbroken, so that the bars will fold upon or toward each other. Toaccomplish these results, it is necessary for the occupant to lean outof the vehicle first on one side and then 011 the other in order tograsp the stay-rod to break the joint. This is a very difficult anddangerous operation, especially if driving a' vicious or timid horse,and frequently results in serious accidents.

The object of my invention is to provide improved means whereby thestay-rod is securely locked at the joint when in an extended position tohold the top or canopy raised, and also to provide means whereby thejoints on both sides of the vehicle may be broken simultaneously tolower the top without the occupant being obliged to reach out of thevehicle.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination ofparts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is Y a side elevation of a buggytop and seat with my improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a frontview of the same with the top or canopy broken away to show theoperatingcord. Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views, on an enlarged scale, ofthe means for locking the stay-bars.

In the said drawings the referencenumeral 1 denotes the seat, and 2theback.

The numeral 3 denotes the side bars secured to the side of the seat andwith the back and provided with studs 4, to which the bows 5 arepivoted. The top or canopy is supported by these bows and is providedwith the jointed horizontal rod 6. All of these parts may be of anyordinary or suitable construction, as they form no part of my invention.Each stay-rod consists of two bars 7 and 8, the former of which ispivoted to a stud 9, secured to the side bar 3, while bar 8 is pivotedto a stud 10, secured to the frame of the top or canopy. These bars arejointed together at their meeting ends in the ordinary manner.

Secured to the end of bars 8 by means of a clamp 12 is a flat spring 13,having a slot 14 near its lower end, with which engages a beveled lug 15on a sliding clamp 16, embracing the upper end of rod 7. The ends ofsprings 13 are bent outward and provided with apertures 17 and 18. Thestay-bars on both sides of the vehicle are identical in construction,and a cord 19 is passed through the apertures in one of the springs 13,and thence carried upward through an eyelet in the curtain, thencethrough a screweye in the canopyframe across the buggy, and thencethrough similar eyes and eyelets to the spring on the opposite side andthrough the aperture therein, the ends of the cord being knotted toprevent them from being drawn through the lower apertures in thesprings. The stay-rods are extended or aligned with each other to holdthe top or canopy raised in the usual manner, the beveled lugs engagingwith the slots in the springs, so as to securely lockthe joint, theclamp carrying the lug being movable, so that as the inner end of theslot strikes the beveled portion of the lug it will force the sameoutward or downward, so as to engage with the front end thereof. Tobreak the joint, it is only necessary for the occupant of the vehicle toreach up and grasp the cord running across the top and pull the same,when the lugs will be disengaged from the springs, when the rods will bedepressed and the top lowered.

From the above it will be seen that the stay-rods are securely lockedwhen extended, preventing rattling of the parts and accidental loweringof the top or canopy, while at the same time the top can be readilylowered when desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is In a buggy or othervehicle, the combination, with the jointed stay-rods, of the springssecured to one of the bars thereof, the sliding clamp on the other bar,provided with a beveled lug, the slotted springs adapted to engage withsaid lugs, and the operating-cord connected with said springs andpassing trans versely across the top or canopy on the inside thereof,substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereuntoaffixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL JAY SHULTZ.

WVitnesses:

WILLIAM -OLIVER BRINDLE, HARRY SYLvEsTER J ACOBS.

